Commentary

 

Resurrection, the first

  

'The first resurrection,' mentioned in Revelation 20:5, 6, does not mean a first resurrection, but the essence and primary part of resurrection, which is salvation and eternal life. There is only one resurrection to life. A second does not happen, and is not mentioned anywhere in the Bible.

(References: Apocalypse Explained 6; Apocalypse Revealed 851; Revelation 20:5-6)

From Swedenborg's Works

 

Arcana Coelestia #8075

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8075. 'And all offspring opening it among the beasts' means all charity belonging to the new birth. This is clear from the meaning of 'whatever opens the womb' as faith springing from charity, which belongs to the new birth, dealt with in 8043; and from the meaning of offspring of the beasts' as the affection for good, dealt with in 45, 46, 142, 143, 246, 714, 715, 719, 776, 1823, 2179, 2180, 3218, 3519, 5198, thus the good of charity.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.